Building construction



Se t. 14, 1965 R. L. HARRIS 3,205,631

- BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 27. 1965 INVENTOR 20 l9 Robert L. Harris W imp/9 w United States Patent 3,205,631 BUILDING CONSTRUtJTlGN Robert L. Harris, Wellsburg, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 27, 1963, Ser. No. 290,967 2 Claims. (Cl. 52483) This invention relates to building construction and particularly to a building construction comprising an inner skin carrying subgirts to which an outer skin is adapted to be applied with or without insulating material between the inner and outer skins. More particularly the invention concerns a novel form of subgirt and the attachment of the subgirts to the inner skin. My subgirts are adapted to be interfitted with each other and assembled with the inner skin in a novel manner entirely by means integral with the subgirts without the use of any extraneous fastening means, without welding, without puncturing any component of the building construction and without using tools. This is an innovation in building construction which greatly facilitates erection and obviates the need for skilled labor, thus greatly reducing erection cost. Moreover, my novel subgirt structures provides for the subgirts being tightly wedged in place with respect to the elements constituting the inner skin whereby a structure of unprecedented strength and rigidity formed without extraneous fastening means, welding or puncturing and without using tools is provided. Further, my subgirts are so constructed that it is virtually impossible to apply them incorrectly so that my construction is foolproof. A further advantage of the invention is that the elements may be prepainted; no painting in the field is necessary.

It is well known to construct buildings having a supporting structure such as a structural steel frame to which is fastened an inner skin of interfitting elements with subgirts applied thereto externally and an outer skin applied to the subgirts. The inner skin in a prefabricated sheet metal building may consists of interfitting elements each having at an edge thereof a first flange and at the opposite edge thereof a second flange extending in the same direction as the first flange but the second flange having a reversely turned extremity forming a pocket, the first flange of each of the interfitting elements being received in the pocket of an adjacent element. The elements may be in the form of elongated panels with the flanges at their longer edges. When the panels are used for side walls they are positioned on end with the interfitting flanges extending vertically. The thus formed inner skin of the building construction may be attached to the supporting structure in any suitable manner as by welding, molding, riveting, etc. Also, so far as the present invention is concerned the outer skin may be applied to the subgirts in any preferred manner. The present invention is confined to the form of the subgirts and their application to the inner skin.

My subgirt preferably has a hook-shaped projection adapted to receive the reversely turned extremity of the second flange of one of the interfitting elements forming the inner skin as above referred to. The hook-shaped projection is preferably of sheet metal and its extremity, which may be pointed, is adapted to be inserted between the first flange and the reversely turned extremity of the second flange at a joint of the interfitting elements forming the inner skin. The subgirts have, as above indicated, integral means whereby they interfit with each other and are maintained tightly assembled to the interfitting elements forming the inner skin of the building construction Without the use of any extraneous fastening means, without welding, without puncturing any component of the building construction, without the use of tools and with no necessity for the erector being skilled in building construction.

In my building construction each subgirt preferably has adjacent an end thereof a hook-shaped projection receiving the reversely turned extremity of the second flange of one of the interfitting elements as above referred to and preferably has adjacent its opposite end a portion lying between the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements and interengaging with the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt. The subgirt preferably has adjacent its said opposite end a projection passing through an opening in the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt. In a preferred structure my subgirt has its opposite end as above referred to lying between the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements, said opposite end having an outward projection passing through an opening in the adjacent subgirt. Desirably spaced apart endwise extensions are provided at the above referred to opposite end of the subgirt which may be disposed on opposite sides of the hook-shaped projection of the adjacent subgirt, the extensions preferably having outward projections passing through openings in the adjacent subgirt.

The surface or surfaces of the extension or extensions of the subgrit opposed to the interfitting elements preferably is or are convexly curved so that the subgrit may be applied by inserting the extension or extensions under the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt with the subgrit disposed at an acute angle to the general plane of the interfitting elements and turning the subgrit down into substantial parallelism with the general plane of the interfitting elements, the convexly curved surface or surfaces of the extension or extensions serving as cam means to wedge the subgirt tightly between the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements.

In a preferred structure each subgirt is somewhat longer than the distance between the first flange and the second flange of each of the interfitting elements constituting the inner skin of the building construction, spanning the space between the first flange and the second flange of one of said elements and having at an end thereof a hookshaped projection receiving the reversely turned extremity of the second flange of an adjacent element and having at the opposite end thereof a portion fitting between the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt and the outside of the pocket of said one of said elements.

More specifically, my subgirt may comprise an elongated body, a hook-shaped projection extending laterally from the body adjacent an end thereof, the body having an opening therethrough adjacent said end, and an endwise extension at the opposite end of the body adapted when the subgirt is assembled in generally end-to-end relation with a like subgirt similarly oriented to enter the opening in the other subgirt. The endwise extension preferably has a projection extending in the direction from the body of the subgirt opposite the direction in which the hook-shaped projection extends and adapted When the subgirt is assembled in generally end-to-end relation with a like subgirt similarly oriented to enter the opening in the other subgirt.

The hook-shaped projection is preferably narrower than the body of the subgirt and the body preferably has opening means therethrough adjacent the end of the subgirt at which the hook-shaped projection is disposed and at least partly more remote from the axis of the body than the edges of the hook-shaped projection. Spaced apart endwise extensions are preferably provided at the opposite end of the body of the subgirt, the space between such Patented Sept. 14, 1965 endwise extensions being greater than the width of the hook-shaped projection to receive therebetween a hookshaped projection of a similar subgirt. The surface of the extension facing in the direction in which the hookshaped projection extends is preferably convexly curved away from the body of the subgirt in the direction from the extremity of the extension toward the body to wedge the subgirt in place as above explained.

In a preferred structure the body of the subgirt is of generally channel shape and the hook-shaped projeo tion extends from the body of the subgirt in the same direction as the channel flanges adjacent an end of the body, the hook-shaped projection being narrower than the body, the body having opening means therethrough adjacent said end and at least partly more remote from the axis of the body than the edges of the hook-shaped projection. Spaced apart endwise extensions of the channel flanges are disposed at the opposite end of the body, the space between such endwise extensions being greater than the width of the hook-shaped projection to receive therebetween a hook-shaped projection of a similar subgirt. The extensions have projections extending in the direction from the body opposite the direction in which the hook-shaped projection extends, such projections being adapted when the subgirt is assembled in generally end-to-end relation with a like subgirt similarly oriented to enter the opening means in the other subgirt. The surfaces of the extensions facing in the direction in which the hook-shaped projection extends are convexly curved away from the body of the subgirt in the direction from the extremities of the extensions toward the body for the reason above stated.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view through a building construction embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view through a portion of the building construction shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner of application of one of the subgirts;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the subgirt in place; and

FIGURE 4 is an orthogonal perspective view of one of the subgirts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a building construction comprising a supporting structure in the form of a structural steel frame having uprights 2 connected by horizontal members 3. The structural steel frame may be conventional; it may be welded with angles 3a at the connections between the uprights 2 and the horizontal members 3. It carries an inner skin designated generally by reference numeral 4 which consists of interfitting elements 5 each having at an edge thereof a first flange 6 and at the opposite edge thereof a second flange 7 extending in the same direction as the first flange; but the second flange has a reversely turned extremity 8 forming a pocket 9. The flange 6 of each of the elements 5 is received in the pocket 9 of an adjacent element. The elements 5 are mounted on the supporting structure in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the use of screws 10 threaded into flanges 3b of the horizontal members 3.

I apply to the inner skin 4 interfitting subgirts 11 which are maintained tightly assembled with the interfitting elements 5 by novel means which are integral with the subgirts whereby the subgirts are maintained tightly assembled to the interfitting elements 5 without the use of any extraneous fastening means, without welding, without puncturing any component of the building construction and without the use of tools.

One of my subgirts is shown in FIGURE 4. It comprises an elongated body 12 shown as being of generally channel shape. The web of the body is designated 13 and the opposed flanges are designated 14. The subgirt 11 has a hook-shaped projection 15 extending from the body 12 in the same direction as the channel flanges 14 adjacent an end of the body 12, which end is designated I. The hook-shaped projection 15 is narrower than the body as shown in FIGURE 4 and the body has opening means 16 therethrough adjacent the end I and at least partly more remote from the axis A of the body than the edges of the hook-shaped projection 15. In FIGURE 4 two separate openings 16 are shown but it would be possible if the strength of the material employed permitted to have a single continuous opening including the areas indicated by 16 in FIGURE 4 and also including the intervening space. That is why the term opening means is used and why I state that the opening means are at least partly more remote from the axis of the body than the edges of the hook-shaped projection.

The end of the subgirt opposite the end I is designated II. At the end II spaced apart endwise extensions of the channel flanges 14 are provided, such extensions being designated 17. In FIGURE 4 the extensions 17 are shown as being die-formed slightly inwardly from the flanges 14 but they are nevertheless continuations of the flanges. At the end II the web 13 is cut away at 18, the width of the cut-out portion being slightly greater than the width of the hook-shaped projection 15 so that a hook-shaped projection of a similar subgirt may be disposed in between the extensions 17. Integral with the extensions 17 and forming portions'thereof are the opposed parts 19 of the web 13 at opposite sides of the cutout portion 18. The extensions 17 have projections 20 extending in the direction from the body 12 opposite the direction in which the hook-shaped projection 15 extends,

the projections 20 being adapted when the subgirt is assembled in generally end-to-end relation with a like subgirt similarly oriented to enter the openings 16 in the other subgirt. The surfaces 21 of the extensions 17 facing in the direction in which the hook-shaped projection 15 extends are convexly curved away from the body 12 of the subgirt 11 in the direction from the extremities of the extensions toward the body.

In applying the subgirt the hook-shaped projection 15 is hooked onto the reversely turned extremity 8 of the flange 7 of one of the elements 5 so that such reversely turned extremity is received in the cavity 22 of the hookshaped projection as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. Outward movement of the end I of the subgirt relatively to the inner skin 4 is limited by seating of the reversely turned extremity 8 of the flange 7 in the bottom of the cavity 22 of the hook-shaped projection 15.

' Another subgirt 11 is now applied by disposing it at an acute angle to the general plane of the inner skin 4 as shown in FIGURE 2 with the projections 17 between the outer end of the flange 7 having the reversely turned extremity 8 and the end I of the first subgirt 11. The convexly curved surfaces 21 of the extensions 17 bear on the outer end of the flange 7. The surfaces 21 serve as cam means as the subgirt is turned down in the direction of the arrow of FIGURE 2 from its initial position at an acute angle to the skin 4 to its final position in substantial parallelism with that plane as shown in FIGURE 3. As the subgirt is thus turned down or rotated into substantial parallelism with the general plane of the skin 4 the projections.20 enter the 0penings 16 whereby the subgirt being applied is fixed in the longitudinal direction relatively to the subgirt previously applied. But as the subgirt being applied is turned down the convexly curved surfaces 21 ride on the outer end of the flange 7 and progressively cam the end II of the subgirt in the direction away from the outer end of the flange 7 so that when the subgirt reaches substantial parallelism with the general plane of the inner skin 4 the second subgirt is wedged tightly between the outer end of the flange '7 and the first subgirt. As previously explained, the end I of the first subgirt is held against outward movement by seating of the reversely turned extremity 8 of the flange '7 in the cavity 22 of the hook-shaped projection 15. Thus a very tight and strong connection is formed. The end I of second subgirt is pushed toward the inner skin 4 until the extremity 23 of the hook-shaped projection 15 passes the end of the reversely turned extremity 8 of the flange '7 of the next element 5 whereupon the extremity 23 snaps under the reversely turned extremity 8 and upon pulling outwardly of the end I of the subgirt the reversely turned extremity 8 seats in the cavity 22. This may be aided by sharpening the extremity 23 as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. This completes the cycle which may be repeated until subgirts have been applied to the complete inner skin 4. The subgirts may be applied by an unskilled person with no tools and no extraneous fastening means. The extreme outer ends of the last subgirts at each extremity of the inner skin 4 may be fastened to the supporting structure by separate means but that is the only exception to the applicability of the subgirts through their own integral fastening means .alone.

FIGURE 1 shows an outer skin 24 in place against the subgirts 11. The manner of applying the outer skin 24 does not constitute the present invention and it may be applied in conventional or other manner, as for example, by screws. Since the present invention is not concerned with the manner of applying the outer skin no means for applying it to the subgirts are shown. Insulating bats 25 may be disposed between the inner skin 4 and the outer skin 24.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Building construction comprising interfitting elements each having at an edge thereof a first flange and at the opposite edge thereof a second flange extending in the same direction as the first flange with the second flange having a reversely turned extremity forming a pocket, the pocket of an adjacent element receiving the first flange of each of the interfitting elements, and subgirts each having adjacent an end thereof a hook-shaped projection receiving the reversely turned extremity of the second flange of one of the interfitting elements and having its opposite end lying between the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements and having an endwise extension at said opposite end extending through an opening in said first mentioned end of said adjacent subgirt, said extensions having an outward projection extending transversely of the length of the subgirt passing through an opening in the body of the adjacent subgirt, the surface of said extension opposed to the interfitting elements being convexly curved so that the subgirt nay be applied by inserting the extension under the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt with the subgirt disposed at an acute angle to the general plane of the interfitting elements and turning the subgirt down into substantial parallelism with the general plane of the interfitting elements, said convexly curved surface of the extension serving as cam means to Wedge the subgirt tightly between the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements.

2. Building construction comprising interfitting elements each having at an edge thereof a first flange and at the opposite edge thereof a second flange extending in the same direction as the first flange with the second flange having a reversely turned extremity forming a pocket, the first flange of each of the interfitting elements being received in the pocket of an adjacent element receiving the first flange of each of the interfitting elements, and subgirts each having adjacent an end thereof a hookshaped projection receiving the reversely turned extremity of the second flange of one of the interfitting elements and having its opposite end lying between the first mentioned end of an adjacent subgirt and the interfitting elements and having spaced apart endwise extensions at said opposite end extending through openings in said first mentioned end of said adjacent subgirt disposed on opposite sides of the hook-shaped projection of the adjacent subgirt, said extensions having outward projections extending transversely of the length of the subgirt passing through openings in the body of the adjacent subgirt, the surfaces of said extensions opposed to the interfitting elements being convexly curved so that the subgirt may be applied by inserting the projections under the first mentioned end of the adjacent subgirt with the subgirt disposed at an acute angle to the general plane of the interfitting elements and turning the subgirt down into substantial parallelism With the general plane of the interfitting elements, said convexly curved surfaces of the extensions serving as cam means to wedge the subgirt tightly between the first mentoned end of the adjacent subgrit and the interfitting elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,876,871 3/59 Coifrnan et al. 189-34 2,910,150 10/59 Roseman 189-34 3,053,359 9/62 Stanley 204 3,054,482 9/62 Lassen 189-34 3,111,205 11/63 Gresham 18934 RICHARD W. COOKE, IR, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, JACOB L. NACKEN- OFF, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,205,631 September 14, 1965 Robert L. Harris It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1 line 24, for "structures" read structure line 40 for "consists" read consist column 5, line 53 for "extensions" read extension column 6, lines 1 and 18, strike out "the first flange of each of the interfitting elements being received in; line "'41; for "mentoned" read mentioned Signed and sealed this 5th day of April 1966 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING INTERFITTING ELEMENTS EACH HAVING AT AN EDGE THEREOF A FIRST FLANGE AND AT THE OPPOSITE EDGE THEREOF A SECOND FLANGE EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FIRST FLANGE WITH THE SECOND FLANGE HAVING A RECERSELY TURNED EXTREMITY FORMING A POCKET, THE POCKET OF AN ADJACENT ELEMENT RECEIVING THE FIRST FLANGE OF EACH OF THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS, AND SUBGIRTS EACH HAVING ADJACENT AN END THEREOF A HOOK-SHAPED PROJECTION RECEIVING THE REVERSELY TURNED EXTREMITY OF THE SECOND FLANGE OF ONE OF THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END LYING BETWEEN THE FIRST MENTIONED END OF AN ADJACENT SUBGIRT AND THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS AND HAVING AN ENDWISE EXTENSION AT SAID OPPOSITE END EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID FIRST MENTIONED END OF SAID ADJACENT SUBGIRT, SAID EXTENSIONS HAVING AN OUTWARD PROJECTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LENGTH OF THE SUBGIRT PASSING THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BODY OF THE ADJACENT SUBGIRT, THE SURFACE OF SAID EXTENSION OPPOSED TO THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS BEING CONVEXLY CURVED SO THAT THE SUBGIRT MAY BE APPLIED BY INSERTING THE EXTENSION UNDER THE FIRST MENTIONED END OF THE ADJACENT SUBGIRT WITH THE SUBGIRT DISPOSED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE GENERAL PLANE OF THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS AND TURNING THE SUBGIRT DOWN INOT SUBSTANTIAL PARALLELISM WITH THE GENERAL PLANE OF THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS, SAID CONVEXLY CURVED SURFACE OF THE EXTENSION SERVING AS CAM MEANS TO WEDGE THE SUBGIRT TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE FIRST MENTIONED END OF THE ADJACENT SUBGIRT AND THE INTERFITTING ELEMENTS. 